After Florida State starting pitcher Luke Weaver was taken 27th overall by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2014 Major League Baseball Draft on Thursday night, three more Seminoles were taken on Friday including a pair of pitchers.
Though the wait between FSU players was five rounds, the second Seminole selected was also a starting pitcher. Despite appearing in just six games this season before suffering a knee injury, Brandon Leibrandt was taken in the sixth round by the Philadelphia Phillies.
In his six appearances in 2014, Leibrandt compiled a 4-1 record with a 1.83 ERA. The lefty Leibrandt is the son of former big league pitcher Charlie Leibrandt, who pitched for four different big league clubs. Brandon Leibrandt was selected 152nd overall.
The final two Seminoles to go on the second day of the draft were each taken in the ninth round. Peter Miller became the third Florida State pitcher to hear his name called as he went 261st to the Seattle Mariners. Miller had an up-and-down 2014 campaign with a 3-4 record and a 5.14 ERA. Although seven of Miller’s 17 appearances this past season were starts, the right-hander did his best work out of the bullpen.
Nine picks later, Justin Gonzalez became the first FSU position player to be selected as he went 270th to the Arizona Diamondbacks. The shortstop had a down year for the Seminoles as Gonzalez finished with just a .245 batting average and three home runs. While consistency has been a sore spot, Gonzalez has good power for a middle infielder and has made highlight plays in the field on more than one occasion.
The 2014 draft will conclude on Saturday with the final 30 rounds. Among potential FSU players to be selected on Saturday are third baseman Jose Brizuela, outfielder Josh Delph, pitchers Gage Smith and Mike Compton as well as first baseman John Nogowski.
